Students disrupt college event after Tricolour hoisted

Agitating students disrupted a sporting event sponsored by the Kashmir police at the government degree college in Anantnag, south Kashmir, on Wednesday.

Videos of the incident, which had students setting hoardings and banners ablaze, went viral on social media.

Sources said students went on rampage after the national flag was hoisted as part of the event. They later clashed with policemen on the college campus. “The students became violent soon after the event began. They set fire to the stage and tents,” college principal in-charge AM Dar told HT.

The institute authorities had reportedly asked police to refrain from holding the event during college hours because it could lead to a law-and-order problem. “But the police did not pay any heed to our suggestion that the programme be held after 4pm,” said Dar. But he dispelled rumours that students burnt the flag during clashes.

Anantnag senior superintendent of police Altaf Khan said the agitation has been quelled and the event will be conducted without any hiccups. “I am here on the campus with other senior officers, and we are going ahead with the event,” Khan told HT on Wednesday.

The police officer, however, said he did not receive any letter from college authorities.

The government degree college at Anantnag, established in 1950, is affiliated to Kashmir University. As many as 5,000 students are enrolled there.

state government on Wednesday removed the principal of a women’s college, which has been rocked by student protests for two days, over alleged imposition of “dress code” and “unnecessary diktats” by management.

It also ordered an inquiry into the allegations of students against the principal of the government college here.

“Pending inquiry into the matter, Anita Sudan, principal, Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu, is hereby attached with Director College Higher Education department with immediately effect,” additional secretary, higher education department, Mohmmad Ashraf Hakak, said in an order. Geetanjali Andhotra had been posted as in charge-principal of the college, he said. PTI